Debate contribution: Racist Incidents

Debate contribution by Ms Kate Nicholl on 12 November 2024.

MLA

Ms Kate Nicholl

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

12 November 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Committee Business

Heading

Racist Incidents

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4658372

Read the official Assembly record

Text

If we gathered in the House to talk about incidents of sexual assault or street violence and anyone mentioned "legitimate concerns", there would be outrage. We need to stop doing that. We have to stop doing that when it comes to racist attacks. There were no legitimate concerns when it came to the racism that we experienced in our city in August. If you want to discuss housing or how people are struggling to cope, that is for a debate on the cost of living or housing. Please stop bringing it in when we are talking about racist attacks. It is totally unacceptable, and it gives victims the impression that they are being prioritised over the perpetrators. It has to stop. Please, can we stop doing it? I welcome the motion. I welcome the Chair's comments that it is about a review and looking at what we got wrong and what we need to do right. That is so important. We had the recall and discussed at length how those attacks were outrageous. I keep thinking about business owner Muhammad Atif, who stood on the stairs in the Great Hall and made a dignified plea that we build a society that celebrates our diversity and is future focused, thinking about the next generation and what sort of society we want our children to grow up in. It is not just about minority ethnic people not feeling valued but about how, as a society, we treat anyone who feels different and ensure that they feel valued and important. The prospect of legislation has been raised. That is part of the response. It does not feel as though there is any urgency. Why do we not have the refugee integration strategy that is recommended in the racial equality strategy? It has been meant to be coming for months. It is not here yet. We are really good at condemnation and turning up and showing support when something awful has happened, but what are we doing in the meantime? One area that I am passionate about and talk about a lot, but feel is ignored, is support for asylum seekers and refugees. I really hope that any review looks into the governance of how we address those issues. Months ago, I asked about a meeting specifically about children who are in contingency accommodation. I said that I was really worried that, at some point, an inquiry will be needed into how those children have been treated. Gerry and I go into the hotels fairly regularly, and we have met people who are living in contingency accommodation to hear what they are going through. Shortly after I was elected, I went into a hotel. "Hotel" is misleading: it gives the impression that the people there are living in the lap of luxury. Those people have been through unimaginable hell and have come here to start a new life. It is our human rights obligation and our privilege to support people as they build a new life. I remember that there was a group of women who were waiting to talk to me that day. Every single one of them had been through the worst that humans can do to one another. What they had been through would be unimaginable to most people. They just wanted safety and security for their children. One child was nine or 10 and had started wetting the bed again. They were terrified and asking what they had done wrong to be in prison. They were going to school, but they were traumatised and were not getting the support that they needed. We need to have a conversation about how we address that together. We had the strategic migration partnership, which fell apart. TEO took that on, and I am grateful that officials are doing amazing work on that. However, there is no accountability or transparency about how the different Departments feed into that to support, honestly, the most vulnerable people in society. We need to have a discussion about how we protect them. Any review will be really important, but so, too, will be how we lead, discuss and put in place mechanisms so that no one falls through the gap. I am desperately worried about those children, and I am desperately worried that they are not a priority because they are a tiny minority. How we treat those people says so much about how we are as a society. Yesterday, we discussed the legacy of Anna Lo. When she was an MLA, all those years ago, Anna Lo championed racial equality and asked for legislation on that. We are still waiting. If we are serious about showing that we are committed to racial equality, we will bring that forward.

791 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:32 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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